Bill Cosby behind bars

“America’s Dad” sentenced to incarceration in state prison for sexual assault crimes

Amy Inkrott / News Editor and Noah Straninger / Contributor

Bill Cosby’s accomplishments and popularity have been overshadowed by the numerous sexual assault allegations against him. After several years of allegations and a mistrial, former comedian and actor Bill Cosby is now behind bars serving three to 10 years in a Pennsylvania state prison. 

Throughout his career, Bill Cosby has often been considered a prevalent cultural figure in American media. In 1965, he became the first African-American actor in a leading role when he starred in the show “I Spy.” Cosby quickly became a popular figure in the media as he appeared in various television shows and movies. He was also well known for the different comedy segments he produced. From his educational programs such as “Little Bill” and “Fat Albert,” to his family friendly shows such as “The Cosby Show” and “Kids Say the Darndest Things”, the comedian had a career spanning six decades with his final comedy special airing in 2013 titled “Far From Finished.” Cosby’s popularity earned him the title of “America’s Dad.” 

 In 2005, Andrea Constand claimed that Cosby had drugged and groped her. The charges resulted in a $3.4 million settlement against the comedian. Documents from the trial, released in 2015, revealed that Cosby had admitted to giving Quaaludes to the women he targeted. Quaaludes are a powerful sedative with similar effects to current date-rape drugs. The drug used by Cosby has since been made illegal. 

When the #MeToo movement swept the country, many celebrities were brought into the spotlight for allegations of sexual misconduct. Since 2005, more than 60 women, many of whom worked in the entertainment business, have come forward with allegations against Cosby. Many of the accusers described situations similar to that of Constand. 

Cosby’s trial demonstrated the massive issue of sexual misconduct throughout the country, including institutions like the University of San Diego. Nearly one in four students face some form of sexual assault during their time in college. The #MeToo movement has brought greater attention to the prevalence of sexual assault in today’s society. Despite having fame, a net worth of $400 million, and a fulfilling and impactful career spanning decades, “America’s Dad” still faced repercussions for his past actions. 

He had a reputation as a wholesome family man and was a pioneer in his industry, but the allegations proved to change this. 

Although many students are too young to have ever watched his shows and didn’t grow up regarding him as a significant public figure, they are still able to understand the weight of his fame and the gravity of his actions. 

First-year student Gabriel Benso was disappointed to hear about the allegations against Cosby.

“He was funny,” Benso said. “I watched Little Bill as a kid. It’s sad to hear that he was sexually assaulting all these women. I can’t believe he would do something like this.” 

Eric Pierson, Ph.D., a professor of communication studies at USD who specializes in black images in television, commented on the significance of Cosby’s career. 

“I don’t think you can erase him from television history by saying, ‘We’re not gonna talk about that guy anymore,’” Pierson said. “So the trick is going to be to find some way to acknowledge these horrible things that he did but also to recognize that there’s a body of work which will always be here whether we want to acknowledge it or not.”

In December of 2015, Cosby was arrested on three charges of aggravated indecent assault. After a May 2016 hearing, a Pennsylvania judge found sufficient evidence for Cosby’s case to proceed to a criminal trial. However, the events of June of 2017 ended in a mistrial as the members of the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.

It wasn’t until April of 2018 that the case was retried and five women were permitted to share their testimonies against the comedian. Constand was the only woman to successfully file charge against Cosby. In the sentencing, the Pennsylvania judge classified Cosby as a “violent sexual predator” and required him to undergo counseling for life. On Sept. 25, Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison for the charges of aggravated indecent assault. 

Many people have felt conflicted about the results of the trial, including some individuals who grew up watching and working with Cosby. People in the entertainment business have cited him as a major influence who had a particularly significant impact on black comedians and actors. Some have spoken in his defense, having had fond memories of working with him. However, this is still overshadowed by his crimes.